Identification of maintainers/restorers to the known CMS lines in sunflower (Helianthus annus L.)

In order to study maintainer or restorer behaviour four superior inbreds viz., NDSI 1, NDSI 2, NDSI 5 and NDSI 1 were crossed with each of the five CMS lines CMS 234A, CMS 850A, CMS 7–1A, CMS 302A and CMS 852A in line x tester fashion during rabi 1998. An examination. of 20 crosses at the time of flowering and pollen shedding revealed that except NDSI 2 with CMS 302A, NDSI 1 and 5 with CMS 852A and NDSI-1 with CMS 1–1A all other inbreds acted as a maintainers for various CMS lines. The identified maintainers should be utilized in the development of new CMS lines through conversion for their future use in heterosis breeding programmes.